The diving gateway of the Western Caribbean — Roatan and the Bay Islands offer some of the cheapest PADI certification in the world beside pristine reef, while Copan has the most ornate Maya sculptures anywhere.
- Capital
- Tegucigalpa
- Population
- 9,892,632
- Area
- 112,090 km²
- Languages
- Spanish
- Currency
- Honduras Lempira (HNL)
- GDP
- $38,172M
Good to know
Driving side
Right
National dish
Baleada, Carne asada, Sopa de Caracol (Conch Soup)
Annual visitors
669,000 (2020)
Safety
Elevated (31.44/100k)
Big Mac
$5.06
Avg temp
24.7°C
Religion
Christianity
Coast
Coastal
☎ Police 119 · Ambulance 195 · Fire 198
Travel guide
Honduras has colonial villages (Gracias, Comayagua), ancient Maya ruins (Copán), natural parks (Moskitia), and a Pacific and Caribbean coastline and the Bay Islands, with great beaches and coral reefs where snorkeling and diving are exceptional by any standard. The second-biggest country in Central America, Honduras presents a variety of travel. Good amenities can be found in cities like Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba, Tela, Utila, Roatán and Copán Ruinas, but elsewhere conditions can be basic, especially in the rural areas. You can find good hotels even in small towns if you are willing to pay a bit more (Honduras is relatively inexpensive). Nevertheless a visit is worthwhile, especially to the ancient Maya ruins in Copán, the colonial towns of Gracias and Comayagua, and the Caribbean Coast.
© Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA)
Explore Honduras
Best time to visit
December–April is the dry season — best for diving on the Bay Islands and visiting Copan. May–November is wetter. Hurricane season June–November. Roatan diving is excellent year-round.
Visa
Citizens of US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia and most Western countries receive 90 days visa-free under the CA-4 agreement.
Highlights
Discovered in 1570 by Diego García de Palacio, the ruins of Copán, one of the most important sites of the Mayan civilization, were not excavated until the 19th century. The ruined citadel and imposing public squares reveal the three main stages of development before the city was abandoned in the early 10th century.
Public holidays
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (2)
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